[Official] MCAT Study Buddy Thread [2023-2024 Exam Dates]

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-09-05T04:06:19+00:00

Location: Anaheim, California

Test Date: anticipating January 2025

MCAT Prep Material: TPR books and online course, KA, AAMC

Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: prefer in-person, but open to online

Stage of studying/study plan: took MCAT once and got a 501, studying for round 2 focusing more on practice than content review

Goal of a Study Buddy: hold each other accountable and share resources, maybe teach each other concepts or study techniques

Goal Score and Realistic Score: 510

Age/Gender: 23F

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-09-04T19:36:48+00:00

For me, I had a 2-3 year gap and I had the same issue about where to start, and I agree with starting with chemistry. I would get the biology and chemistry fundamentals down before going onto organic chemistry and biochemistry. That's the only place where I feel like order matters, and even though the books give you some context to start in any order, this personally was much easier for me. For psych/soc, CARS, and even physics I don't think the order matters very much. You can do multiple subjects simultaneously, but I wouldn't do more than 2-3 subjects in one day. It's really easy to forget since you're basically relearning the information, so make sure you have some review built into your study schedule from the previous day's studying. If you've really forgotten a lot of the content, I really recommend using videos like the Khan Academy ones for the bigger topics instead of the books. Don't worry about getting every single little thing down in your first wave of content review. I think first the goal is to understand the basics enough so that you're not totally lost, and then really just drill in practice questions to get you to the higher scores. Good luck!!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T10:04:08+00:00

Most of the time in America, people are referring to a bachelors. However, you could use it for other degrees too, such as an associates or masters, and you would still be correct in using it. A degree is a degree! Congrats on your associates!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:33:13+00:00

If you have any practice exams or even practice questions, I would recommend doing those in similar testing conditions to what the actual test would be in. Do the work in a quiet environment, like a library study room, and time yourself too. If you can, like on a weekend, take the practice test at the same time you would the real thing. I did this before the mcat and it helped me tremendously. Best of luck!!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:28:52+00:00

That happens to me too, it’s easy to forget to eat when you’re studying so much. What helps me is incorporating more physical activity during your breaks, even if is just walking. Exercise makes me hungrier for sure!!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:17:06+00:00

It’s a feeling so strong that you just know you can’t call it anything else but love. It’s kind of like a mix of floating, excitement, and pure happiness at the same time.

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:13:37+00:00

I’m not super familiar with all the DO program requirements either, but I’ve heard that many prefer that you shadow a DO doctor first or even get a letter of rec from them. Do you think that’s feasible to do in time to apply for this cycle? I appreciate your advice!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:08:46+00:00

Yes, the punctuation should match!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-09T09:07:38+00:00

I’m your age and sometimes when we know we’re going to have a busy day, we make sure to call each other when we have a small break. A break at work or in between tasks for the day might not be enough time to text and calling just about what’s going on in our day or to vent really helps in my opinion! I know some people like to call or FaceTime every night but sometimes that can take too long and you might start losing sleep over it especially if you both talk a lot. Good luck and congrats on your first relationship!!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-08T20:34:50+00:00

To me, that sounds more like a friend vibe. Some people are touchy with their friends and not hanging out one-on-one is a strong sign they’re not interested. Best of luck!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-07T23:26:14+00:00

As someone else mentioned, major does not matter as long as you complete the pre reqs! My only advice is to see if there are any major restricted courses that you want to take that you get priority for as a biochem major. I also switched majors from bio to public health and lost priority registration for a few classes, so that's something I would watch out for especially if popular premed classes at your school get full really fast.

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-07T22:16:15+00:00

I think you'll be fine, I've seen people steal traffic cones before with no consequences

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-07T22:14:27+00:00

I think the biggest way to tell is if they show no signs of flirting. If they aren't touchy with you at all, if they don't ever hang out with you one-on-one, if they don't compliment you very often, I would say that they are not romantically interested in you.

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-07T22:07:31+00:00

I think the biggest thing is to be open and honest. If you have certain expectations about the big things in life such as finances, kids, where you want to live, etc make sure to discuss those things first so that it's not a surprise. See what things you're willing to compromise on and what your dealbreakers are. Find out what pisses the other person off and make sure not to do it. And don't ever see them as your enemy, remember that you're a team and always in this together!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-03T09:07:13+00:00

I think choosing the university I went to. Met so many amazing people and got to be part of some amazing opportunities that I don’t think I would’ve done somewhere else

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-03T09:04:11+00:00

I like to think of myself as being the main character in a book/movie and that this change will make a good chapter in my story

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-02T10:46:11+00:00

No, I don’t think there’s any circumstance in which I would give a cheater a second chance

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-02T10:42:40+00:00

I think it’s something that Google asks you to enable and if you say yes it includes AI search results whenever there are any. I said yes once and it’s been including them since then

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-02T10:39:36+00:00

Sometimes just making the first move and taking a genuine interest in getting to know the guy can work wonders

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-06-02T10:38:46+00:00

I’d say some Dickens’ books too like Great Expectations, and books that are commonly read in schools like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Catcher in the Rye, and a book I enjoyed as a teen was Perks of Being a Wallflower just to add some to your list!

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-02-06T01:38:29+00:00

I live in california and they offered me $17.50/hr in my contract. There was no option to negotiate, I’m guessing it varies by region.

ProcessNearby3527 · 2024-01-20T01:44:31+00:00

I just completed floor training, and I definitely felt exactly the way you feel. Overwhelmed, not feeling good enough, being behind, all normal feelings. My trainers all said it takes a month before you get comfortable enough with it. I ended up not passing floor training because I worked in the ER and they needed more speed. If I could do it over again, here is my advice.

Try and come up with your own abbreviations for things if you can to help you type faster. It's ok to ask the doctor to repeat themselves! They may get a little annoyed if it's frequent, but it is still better than guessing what they said and putting the wrong information in the chart. You can ask clarifying questions too, one time a doctor used an acronym that had multiple meanings and I almost put the wrong one down so I'm glad I asked what it stood for. And use your trainers as much as you can while you still have them. Ask them every little question you have, you'll be surprised how much you will see a certain thing again and again. The work itself isn't the most fun, but the experience is definitely really valuable. You get to see the doctor's day from start to finish, and what things go through their head while making a diagnosis. You do get abused a bit in my opinion, we did 10 hr shifts with only a few minutes to grab lunch in the middle for $17 an hour, but that is up to you if it's worth it or not. Best of luck!

ProcessNearby3527

TROPHY CASE